Hydrotubation for diagnosing carcinoma in situ of the fallopian tube. A case report

BACKGROUND: Primary adenocarcinoma of the fallopian tube is rare and not diagnosed until at an advanced stage. We present a case of carcinoma in situ of the fallopian tube in which cytologic examination obtained by hydrotubation facilitated the diagnosis. CASE: A 55-year-old woman presented to Yamaguchi Red Cross Hospital for uterine cancer screening. Endometrial brush cytology revealed adenocarcinoma cells, but endometrial curettage showed no abnormal findings. We performed hydrotubation, collecting abdominal fluid by culdocentesis for cytology. The smear test showed adenocarcinoma with cells similar to those obtained by endometrial brush cytology. Laparotomy showed no abnormalities in the abdominal cavity, and pelvic washing cytology was negative. Based on the positive cytology found by hydrotubation, we performed a hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. Postsurgical histology revealed adenocarcinoma in situ of the fallopian tube. CONCLUSION: The present case suggests that cytologic examination obtained by hydrotubation may be useful in diagnosing early tubal cancer.